Match details
Saturday May 28, Etihad Stadium, 2.10pm (local time)
For away match day information - including tickets - please click here.
You can get live updates on Saturday’s game against North Melbourne from Swans insiders on Facebook (facebook.com/sydneyswans) and Twitter (twitter.com/sydneyswans) - the Official hash tag for this game is #aflnorthswans.
Teams
Sydney Swans
B: Nick Malceski, Ted Richards, Alex Johnson
HB: Tadhg Kennelly, Heath Grundy, Lewis Johnston
C: Rhyce Shaw, Jude Bolton, Nicholas Smith
HF: Ben McGlynn, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Josh P. Kennedy
F: Jarrad McVeigh, Adam Goodes, Ryan O'Keefe
Foll: Mark Seaby, Craig Bird, Daniel Hannebery
I/C: Martin Mattner, Lewis Jetta, Sam Reid, Luke Parker
Emg: Jarred Moore, Jesse White, Andrejs Everitt
In: Lewis Johnston, Mark Seaby
Out: Shane Mumford (Knee), Andrejs Everitt
New: Lewis Johnston (North Adelaide (SA))
North Melbourne
B: Jamie Macmillan, Michael Firrito, Scott Thompson
HB: Daniel Pratt, Luke Delaney, Brady Rawlings
C: Daniel Wells, Levi Greenwood, Scott McMahon
HF: Lindsay Thomas, Aaron Edwards, Brent Harvey
F: Lachlan Hansen, Drew Petrie, Jack Ziebell
Foll: Todd Goldstein, Andrew Swallow, Leigh Adams
I/C: Liam Anthony, Benjamin Speight, Ben Cunnington, Shaun Atley
Emg: Cruize Garlett, Cameron Richardson, Cameron Pedersen
In: Levi Greenwood, Liam Anthony
Out: Cruize Garlett, Kieran Harper (Rested)
Summary
The Sydney Swans travel to Melbourne for just the second time this season - and the first time since round one - when they take on North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Swans fell to their third defeat of the season last weekend against Hawthorn, with all the defeats surprisingly coming at the SCG. Their 2011 away form has been impressive, with the team winning two and drawing one of their three games outside of Sydney. The Swans beat North Melbourne by 40 points in the opposing fixture last year, with Dan Hannebery getting all three Brownlow votes with 27 disposals and a goal in just his tenth game.
North Melbourne currently sit 14th on the ladder and have bounced back with two wins in the last month - including the last two at Etihad Stadium -after they lost their first four games of the season. Last weekend they led the Brisbane Lions into the final quarter, before the Lions were able to run over the top of them to record their first win of the season at a water-logged Gabba.
Players to watch
Sydney Swans: Nick Malceski
Malceski made his return from LARS surgery in last weekend’s loss to Hawthorn, and after a reasonably quiet start, he really got into the game the further it developed. Malceski finished with 18 disposals, five marks, and went forward and kicked a goal in the third quarter. His ball use is first class and his value to the team will become more evident as he gets into the season.
North Melbourne: Brent Harvey
After a slow start in round one against West Coast, the little champ has been at his blistering best since. Harvey has averaged 25 possessions in his last seven games, and he kicked three goals in both of North Melbourne’s wins at Etihad Stadium. Harvey averages just under 20 possessions per game in his 19 games against the Swans dating back to 1997.
Match-up to watch
Craig Bird v Andrew Swallow
Craig Bird was a very important player in the Swans recent wins over the Western Bulldogs and Port Adelaide. Not only was he able to lockdown a dangerous midfielder from each team, he was able to gather important possessions of his own - many of which were involved in the build up to shots on goal. This week Bird will likely come up against one of North Melbourne’s premier midfielders in Andrew Swallow. Swallow has been in great form this year, with an average of 26 disposals per game, and comes into the game off the back of a season’s high 33-possession game against the Brisbane Lions last weekend. If Bird can contain Swallow, and be link as the Swans go forward, that would very much be a win for the away side.
Coaching match-up
John Longmire v Brad Scott
After 200 games, a premiership, and Coleman Medal in his playing career with North Melbourne, John Longmire will go up against his former Club for the first time as an opposing senior coach. Longmire has yet to lose a game away from home, and will be looking to get his first win in Melbourne in his first game in charge at Etihad Stadium. Brad Scott is in his second season as North Melbourne coach, having guided them to ninth position in 2010. Over the last month, the Kangaroos have followed up a loss with a win, and after last week’s loss to Brisbane they will be hoping they can bounce back against the Swans on Saturday.
Click here to watch Swans coach John Longmire talk about this week’s ins and outs
What John Longmire says …
“I know North Melbourne reasonably well and what I do know is that when they get criticised they will come out the next week and give their best effort, so we expect that.’’
Media coverage
TV: Melbourne - Fox Sports 2pm. Sydney/New South Wales - Channel 10 2pm, Fox Sports 2pm.
RADIO: Melbourne - 3AW, Triple M, Sydney - Triple M, ABC702.
Check out www.afl.com.au/broadcast for your local listings
Recent form
Sydney Swans: BLWWL (def by Hawthorn 8.12 (60) to 15.16 (106))
North Melbourne: LWLWL (def by Brisbane Lions 8.11 (59) to 10.13 (73))
2011 Ladder position
Sydney Swans: 8th
North Melbourne: 14th
Head-to-head
Played: 150
Sydney Swans: 78 wins
North Melbourne: 71 wins
Draw: 1
Last time they met
Round 15, 2010: Sydney Swans 12.13 (85) def North Melbourne 7.13 (55), SCG
Current streak
Sydney Swans (4)
Injury list (as at 24/5/11):
Sydney Swans: Daniel Bradshaw (knee) - indefinite, Kieren Jack (ankle) - 1-2 weeks, Jed Lamb (hamstring) - available, Mike Pyke (quad) - 1-2 weeks, Gary Rohan (knee) - 4-6 weeks, Matt Spangher (hamstring) - 1 week
North Melbourne: Todd Goldstein (hip) - test, Ayden Kennedy (knee) - season, Ed Lower (knee) - indefinite, Hamish McIntosh (achilles) - 4-5 weeks, Ben Warren (concussion) - test, Marcus White (shoulder) - 2 weeks
